Saturday, September 20, 2008
Some Will Not See
As you can tell by the comments from my previous post, there are those who are unsure about the vision God is taking our church. But the church is about going, not sitting. We're going. We've come back from Chicago all excited! And we presented the vision to the church leadership, of which a majority were excited at such unity! Perhaps only one or two weren't seeing it. There were some folks who didn't see, and we realize this may happen. But that doesn't stop us from moving forward from the vison that God has given us.
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8 comments:
I think about the following verses concerning your vision. Prov. 3: 5-6, 16:9, Heb. 11:8. What is the common denominator? Faith. God calls us, we listen, we go, the rest we do not know only He does. Also the leadership is at a point of agreement that has been carefully prayed over and has been in their hearts for a long time, and the following verse says the rest, Philippians 3:15-16. I believe this is where our PASTORS (Sheppard’s, leaders, the called, the anointed) are. So continue brothers, Lean.
That's true - some will not see and that's okay.... we will continue to love on them whether they do or not. We are all at different levels, all at different points in our walk, and all with different perspectives. We will not always agree - but we are called to respect each other, encourage each other and to above all else work on our own relationship with God.
Thanks for being willing to stick your necks out. I say I'd take leaders who are passionate about SOMETHING any day of the week over leaders who are stagnant in their mindset. Lukewarm is NO good and God tells us that!! We need more men who are willing to try and fail and take ACTION and make mistakes then do the same old thing, the same old way.
Ultimately it's time to do something - anything - different. The 'masses' are not reaching people. We have to do opposite. People are broke, sick, unattached, lonely, estranged, confused, being lead astray and it's time to do something different to reach those who need it...
we can't expect to keep doing the same things and expect different results! and that includes ALL areas of the church.
THANKS for YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)
Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he’s the one who will keep you on track. -Proverbs 3:5-6
Saw this verse another blog recently. And know I see it again on here. Coincidence? Don't think so...God is speaking very clearly through His people. The question is...are we listening with our heart or just our ears?
So let me get this straight. If I have questions or concerns about the direction, then are you asking me to get out of the way?
Neil I didn't get that impression at all. The leaders are asking us to join... but they won't force people to follow - that's not what leaders do. that's not what God does.
I believe I am called, as a Jesus lover to focus on the good in others. To assume the best until I find otherwise. Above all else to love God & love each other... whether we agree or not, we are called to love... meaning to give mercy... to love each other right where we are, exactly as we are. To allow God to do the fixing of others -- and to work on ourselves. To be excited for each other.
Questions are an awesome thing - challenging is an awesome thing... when given in the right Spirit & tone.
I believe that the leaders will continue to love on the community they have been blessed with so far... to make sure everybody knows they are valuable and loved exactly where they are.... but they won't push us along... they can only pull.
I think Neil that you have a great heart for people, for youth, for this church. I believe you have a specific purpose in all that God is doing here and I know you will continue to figure out exactly what that purpose is. That is between you and God though --- I'm sure He will reveal to you what your specific part of all this is.
but yes I believe to be a godly challenger is an awesome thing! You will probably think of many areas to shed some light on that need some fine tuning... The pastors don't have all the answers right now ---- it's a step by step process.
Neil, thanks so much for all you've done at Southside so far. God has used you and will continue to!! God bless u and your beautiful family! I appreciate you challenging & asking questions and I believe you are challenging out of love and that's a great thing. check out my words here if you want. I wrote some comments on your blog --- but then I realized you hadn't written since 2007 so I'm not sure you'll get them - so I figured I'd just write you here!
http://seedsinmyheart.blogspot.com/
Neil, no I'm not asking anyone to get out of the way, especially you. You've done so much for our church! We love you and want your help in this dream. If you don't agree with it that's totally ok. We can agree to disagree and still have the common ground of reaching others for Christ. I love you man, thanks for your passion.
Thank you for your direct answer, I was getting mixed signals. I have been praying God would help me understand this vision, saying I must be missing something. The hype has baffled me, yet I am trying to see the big picture in all of this. Although I don't agree with a lot of it. So for now I am praying for the common ground you speak of. I do know that God is bigger than all of this and his will be done. 2Cor 13:8 For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth.
Neil,
We love you man. You have been a critical part of the student ministry at Southside for a very long time. We need your passion, and I know God will help us all to win souls to Him--together as a team. Please continue to pray, as we are, that God lays on every heart a role that He has specially designed for them in this vision. I have never seen such unification of the pastors of our church. God has been working on their hearts for some time now. It is an answer to many prayers. I will be praying that you can see how God wants to use you in this vision. You and Kelly and Jennilee are so loved by all of us. Don't lose sight of that.
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